(2) Nonetheless, tonight, accompanied by those nice soul healing musics and songs both from Unggu and Abiet G Ade, I flip those photos album that I’ve collected before the Digital Camera hit the market. All those photos were shot using my cheap Canon Analog camera.
(3) My memories ran back to the 1992 when I was invited by Professor Murai from the Tokyo University to attend the Natural Resource Management Plan in Sabah. I was invited due to my deep interest in the Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) in the Spatial Planning and particularly in the Natural Resource Management Development Planning. All expenses for a week long Seminar were borne by the organizer. I received about RM120.00 days for my personal expenses, of which the hotel cost was taken care separately. For a week Seminar, and at that point in time when my salary was merely above RM1,200.00 net, the RM840.00 for a week is considered a luxury.
(4) Most of the speakers were Japanese, so in most cases I felt so bored, since most of them speak the Japanese-English that I hardly could catch up, that make me left the Seminar to roam around Kota Kinabalu. The Seminar was held at the Tg Aru Beach Hotel. Normally I left immediately after the first paper, then only returned at 1500 hours, ie an hour before the closing of the day, to catch up for the afternoon tea session.
(5) In one of the roaming, I hired a boat to go to Pulau Gaya. It cost me RM150.00 to be ferried to the Island. With me, as the guide was a teenage Filipinos boy, whom I befriend as I was strolling the Kinabalu Water Front. In fact he was a cobbler who wanted to polish my shoes. I hired him for RM20.00 for the trip.
(6) Upon reaching the Island, we took a walk through those crowded and unorganized housing areas (probably not houses but huts). Kids were all over the places. Some were crying, some were diving into the water, some were gambling ‘holo’, some were caring each others heads picking up lice, some breast feeding with their moms, some were just walking behind me begging for some coins. In fact this was my first encounter with such a horrible migrants lives. Nonethless, they seem to be happy.
(7) Since I was carrying my camera, lots request for their photos to be taken. Accordingly, there were lots of the adults were asking whether I came from the National Press, of which, to gain their good respond over some of my queries about their lives, I did ‘admit’ that I came from Berita Harian Press. Surprisingly, most of them want me to write their ‘grateful to Dr. Mahathir’ for not shooing them back to misery back home.
(8) In fact I was very much touch by their side of the story how bad things were at their homeland. Poverty, depression, negligence, ignorance, deprivation, all sort of marginalization are the main stuff of the day for so long since the invasion by the Spanish in the 14th century! And, in one of my official visit to Cotabato, Davao,Kota Del Soa and few other smaller town in Mindanoa thereon, I really can’t believe my eyes to see not only the Muslim were badly marginalised, but it seem the whole Mindanao country side were lack of development.
(9) The next day I used the same boat and the boy to get to Pulau Sapi, further away into the sea. This time I need to pay higher price: RM200.00 for the boat and RM30.00for the guide with a promise I must take some of their photos and the print.
(10) Ferrying on the coast of Kota Kinabalu in fact is a very fascinating experience. The blue coral water form colourful sea garden of different lives. If one loves diving, here are among the places that one should try.
(11) The Seminar in fact ended earlier then expected. By Thursday, all papers were presented, and it was left for the secretariat to compile all the Seminar findings and resolutions. My flight back to Kuching was schedule for Monday morning. As such I have the full three days to finish off my money. I was thinking of not keeping the money. I just want to spend the money to gain the different experiences compare to home.
(12) My missing from the Seminar was closely watched by the Professor. So, during the evening tea break, he approached me, and asking where I have been those few days. I just told him that I was wondering in the sea off the KK. He seem to be amazed, and suggest me tojoin him to climb Mount Kinabalu the next day. Again, he offer to pay all my expenses just to accompany him.
(13) Early Friday morning we depart to Mt Kinabalu by car. He droved all the way. We reached the Mt Kinablau foothill by noon. He didn’t wasted his time, went jogging and tracking all those trails. I just wonder around admiring all the orchids and those beautiful flowers around the Chalet.
(14) On Saturday at 0700 hrs we set off to the Mountain Top. The Professor was about 70 yrs old, I was merely 32. He was well equipped, but I was just with a thin T-Shirt and a plastic wind breaker. My shoe was not the correct one for mountain hiking. It was a hard plastic shoe. I didn’t have my hand glove. Not even with the torch light either. I have a simple head. But I never missed my Canon friend.
(15) I didn’t hurry up to reach the Laban Rata as schedule. I just let the Professor to go ahead of me. I preferred to roam along the trails to look for new orchid varieties and all those changing type of plants from Tropical to Sub-Tropical, then Temperate, and Tundra. All these remind me of the geography and ecology classes that I have ever followed. One awhile I’ll search for an opening at the cliff edges to touch, feel and inhale the cool breeze that come with the height.
(16) I only reach Laban Rata at 1800 hrs. I was really cold. I shivered like wet kitten. The Professor was really worried and he looked pale as he saw me entering the dormitory in that cold situation.
(17) I have my boiled eggs with two packet of Maggie. After, regaining my body temperature to normal, I join the Professor to the dormitory verandah to watch the glittering stars and the cool night air. The Mt Kinabalu Head stand hard as black shadow a head.
(18) The next day, at 0200 hrs, we head for the peak. Since I had no torch light, no hand glove, not even wearing head cover, at the level of 11,000 ft above the mean sea level, and the temperature had fallen to 16 degree Celsius, I really can feel my nose, chin, and ears as touch them. My fingers feel numb. My eyes feel burning in the breeze. My lips felt cracking. But as the Professor keep turning back to me, I just smile and he shook his head.
(19) We raced to reach the Lowii Peak by 0545 hrs, and we did by 0530 hrs. I mounted my camera on the rock facing to the East expecting to get a glimpse of the First Light. Fortunately the weather was very calm. Not too windy. My mental power managed to control my shivering hands and fingers. I force my blood to go up to my fingers, I want a good shot of the First Light!
(20) Exactly at 0545, the bright dot appeared on the far horizon. The dot within seconds, spread into a thin long line of amazing light, then broaden just like a camera flash. I would say the ‘amazing phenomena’ just last for about 5-7 seconds, then the sky turn real dark and the sun only slowly emerges from his sleep at about 0555 hours. At his point in time, my heart, I couldn’t describe my feeling, between a tears of joys and sadness, I just exclaimed Suhannallah, of which the Professor was asking me ‘pardon me’, which I replied just with a smile! Interestingly, the waking of the Sun was followed with breezing that make me wonder further.
(21) We hurried back to Laban Rata by 0630 hrs, and reached down there by 11.00 hrs. Before pushing further down to the foothill, I again sit down by the Hostel Verandah, looked up, and really can’t believe myself, how could I made it up there in the darkness and really ill prepared. The steep rocky wall of Mt Kinabalu Head, the Lowii Peak, I conquered without a plan and preparation.
(22) I reached the foothill at about 1800 hrs, with lots of pain. I really can’t stand straight when I crossed the last gate. My legs muscles began to pull me hard. I lamost want to cry out, but, remembering the Professor was 48 years older than me, yet he still look steady, I just fight back with my mind. Took off my shoes, well, there, all my nails were blacken. It really hurt. I walked barefooted to the hotel. We drove back to KK and reach the town by 2000 hours.
(23) We have nice sea food at the Harbour View Restaurant. I ate lots of the Elephant Snail, and every time I went down to KK, I don’t want to miss this Restaurant and the Elephant Snail.
(24) The Gaya Island, the Sapi Island, the Lowii Peak, the sparkling 0545 hours First Light, remind me ‘In anything, In everything, we do, Our Head Count: if we are determined, InsyaAllah He is always there to see us through as long as we are on the right track (niat)!
Terasi, Simunjan
20 Oct., 2009
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